Frame structure and guide construction of an hydraulic press

ABSTRACT

A high capacity press includes a fixed foundation and a frame which is movable in respect to the foundation by a fluid pressure operated drive comprising a cylinder and plunger movable in the cylinder. Each frame is made up of a plurality of plates arranged in a stack, the plates being either of a closed frame forming configuration or made up of two oppositely arranged C-shaped plates oriented with their legs abutting to form a closed frame. A guide system for the frames is carried on the foundation and engaged with the frame or guiding the frame during its movement and includes an upper guide of substantially T-shaped configuration which extends transversely between adjacent frame elements and bears against the frame in at least two planes and a lower guide comprising elements which extend radially outwardly from the drive cylinder and engage the frame in at least two separate radial planes.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Ernst Muller 3,408,849 11/1968 Jetschmann 72/453 Konizsberger Stras Be 18 5458 Bad, 3,465,669 9/1969 Doudet 100/214 Niederbreisig, Rhein, Germany FOREIGN PATENTS [211 PP M 793,513 301,779 12/1928 Great Britain 100/214 1221 Jan-23,1969 1,005,982 9/1965 Great Britain 72/455 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 i [32] Priority Jan. 23, 1968 Primary Examn erCharles W. Lanham 33] Germany Asszstan! Exammer-Gene P. Crosby [31] p 16 52 8083 At!0rney-McGlew and Toren [54] FRAME STRUCTURE AND GUIDE rtBSTRACT: A high capacity press includes a fixed founda- CONSTRUCTION OF AN HYDRAULIC PRESS tlon and a frame whlch 1s movable in respect to the foundation 8 Chimsg Drawing Figs. by a fluld pressure operated drlve comprising a cylinder and plunger movable 1n the cylinder. Each frame 15 made up of a [52] U.S. Cl 72/455, plurality of P'ates arranged in a Stack the plates being either 72/453 72/456 109/214 ofa closed frame forming configuration or made up of two op- [51] ll!!- Cl B21] 9/02 P y arranged p plates oriented with their g [50] Fleld of Search 72/455, abutting to f a closed frame A guide System for the frames 453,456; loo/2141269 is carried on the foundation and engaged with the frame or guiding the frame during its movement and includes an upper [56] Reterences cued guide of substantially T-shaped configuration which extends UNITED STATES PATENTS transversely between adjacent frame elements and bears 2,722,174 1 H1955 Albers 100/269 against the frame in at least two planes and a lower guide 3,024,676 3/1962 Howahr.. 72/453 prising elements which extend radially outwardly from the 3,311,049 3/1967 Hugi 72/453 drive cylinder and engage the frame in at least two separate 3,397,568 8/1968 Pahnke 100/214 radial planes,

H [L d f 5 12 L yr/ 1 t7 u E I F V A 2 I: 5! m 5" $7 um PATENTEU SEPI 4 I971 SHEET 3 OF 5 Inventor 24 57 Muu E2 .4 flamers PATENTED SEPI 4 I97! 3, 604 243 sum s or 5 Inventor 0157 M024 62 A True/m8 FRAME STRUCTURE AND GUIDE CONSTRUCTION OF AN HYDRAULIC PRESS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the arrangement and construction of a frame guide (guide structure) for the plate-stack press frame of a subfloor press.

The press frame guide comprises a combined top and bottom guide, the top guide being located in the upper vicinity of the foundation column or pillar and the bottom guide being located in the vicinity of the press drive cylinder or cylinders.

The distance between the top and the bottom guides and their relevant basic guide lengths are so selected that exact guidance of the press frame is guaranteed at all press loads, and also when press resistance is off center.

The top and bottom guide elements are so arranged that the immobile guide elements mounted on the foundation column and the press cylinder support in two planes either the side cheeks and face ends of the plate stacks or the supporting element arranged transverse to the plate stacks between two neighboring plate stacks or the guide shoes connected to the latter.

Wearing strips or plates are arranged between the immobile guide elements on the foundation column and press cylinder and the moving elements of the press frame guide system.

The top guide in the vicinity of the foundation column comprises in particular a hammerhead-shaped shaped or similar type of guide element arranged transversely, i.e. at right angles to the press axis, that protrudes between two neighboring plate stacks and supports and positively guides on all three internal surfaces via the wearing strips a U-shaped transverse element for the plate stacks. In this way, two neighboring plate stacks can be guided in two planes in the vicinity of the foundation column.

The bottom guide in the vicinity of the cylinder mounted on the lower end of the foundation column comprises a brackettype or claw-type immobile guide element arranged radial to the press axis that supports and positively guides via wearing plates the claw-type opposing guide element mounted on the plate stack or on the transverse element or between two neighboring plate stacks.

The opposing guide element can also be a guide shoe or part of such a shoe, this being connected to the plate stack or a neighboring part of the frame; for example, this can be a guide shoe that completely or partly encircles the leg of the plate stack, or a part of the frame bottom columns.

In a preferred embodiment, four such radial guide elements are provided in the vicinity of the press cylinder. Their guide surfaces are disposed radially to the press center to permit possible expansion of the press cylinder shell without adversely affecting the guide surfaces.

All guides are to be of adjustable design; the individual guide elements can be of multipart, assembled design, and this applies in particular to the guide shoes.

High-capacity hydraulic presses, and in particular diestamping presses of the type nowadays employed for the manufacture of pressed components of light metals, are of column or pillar design incorporating two or more frame elements made up of plate stacks. One of the main demands made on such frames is that the individual plates of the largest possible rolled width be in firm contact with one another and that their narrow edges exhibit the largest possible moment of resistance to absorb offcenter loads. Under central press rewhich are also suitable for use in conjunction with a relatively simple, expedient and fully effective guide for the moving press frame on a guide basis adequate length.

By combining the selected frame design with the combined top and bottom frame guide in accordance with the invention, a press is obtained that meets the demands nowadays made on a high-capacity press.

Various examples of a subfloor high-capacity press in accordance with the invention, i.e. featuring a press frame comprising a minimum of two neighboring parallel stacks of plates and which is guided on a top and a bottom guide of the immobile press structure for movement, are shown and described in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings FIG. 1 is a section through a four plate-stack press frame,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the press in accordance with FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged representation of one side of a top and bottom frame guide on the press in accordance with FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a partial section through the top frame guide taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a partial section through the bottom frame guide taken along line V--V of FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 is a section through a two plate-stack frame press being a modified version of the press in accordance with FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the press in accordance with FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a section through the bottom frame guide of the press in accordance with FIG. 6 taken along line VIII-VIII of the said FIG. 6,

FIG. 9 is a partial section through a side of a modified version of the top frame guide.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises the top and bottom guide 20 and 21 (FIGS. 1 to 5) and/or the top and bottom guide 30 and 31 (FIGS. 6 to 9) for the movable press frame elements 10 to 13 (FIGS. 1 to 5) and/or 28 and 29 (FIGS. 6 to 9).

The subfloor press in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises an immobile foundation column 1 with fixed workpiece table 2, the foundation supporting structure 3, the press drive 4, the return gear unit 5 and the movable press frame elements 10 to 13.

Press frame elements l0, l1, l2, 13 each comprise a plate stack with plates 14 forming a closed frame with frame opening 15.

Plate stacks 10 to 13 forming the frames are arranged in parallel at a certain distance from one another and offer mutual support and are interconnected transversely by supporting structure l8, 19 comprising a rolled steel plate 16 and rolled U-sections 17.

The top press table is designated 6 and built into frame elements 10 to 13.

The press drive 4 comprises one or two press cylinders 7 mounted on foundation column 1 and plungers 8 moving in the same and supported in the downward direction by frame elements 10 to 13.

Supporting brackets 9 are mounted in certain locations on the outside of the lower portions of such frame elements, moving parts 5' of return gear 5 being connected to such brackets.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show a side of top guide 20 and bottom guide 21 for the press frame elements. The remaining elements of all guides used are appropriately designed and arranged.

Top guide 20 comprises elements 23 arranged parallel to and running along the press axis, such elements being of hammerhead configuration and connected to fixed press table 2; only one such hammerhead-type element is shown.

Each and every element 23 protrudes laterally through two plate-stack frames, e.g. frames 12 and 13. Wearing strips 24 are arranged on the three outer surfaces 23', 23", and 23. The opposing guide is formed by the three inner surfaces 17', i7, and 17" of the U-shaped transverse support 17 as arranged between frames 12 and 13.

In this way, elevating frame elements to 13 are guided in two planes in the upper section with regard to the fixed press parts 1, 2, and 3 by means of their connecting and supporting structure with parts 17.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, bottom guide 21 comprises four supporting elements 22 (of which only one is shown) mounted on cylinder shell 7 and arranged about the circumference radial to the press axis. Each element 22 features a guide supporting surface 22' and each supporting surface features a wearing strip 25.

The opposite guide is formed by supporting surface 26' of supporting strip 26, each such supporting strip being secured to the nearest transverse support 17.

The subfloor-type press in accordance with FIG. 6 comprises an immobile foundation column 27 and a movable press frame 28, 29.

The top guide for frame elements 28, 29 is designated 30 and the bottom guide 31.

Frame elements 28, 29 are formed by the two aforementioned plate stacks, the individual plates 28" and 29" being of U-shape with abutting legs and joined by auxiliary frame 32 to present a closed press frame.

The press drive is designated 33; it comprises drive cylinder 34 which is arranged below foundation column 27 and connected to the latter, and working plunger 35 which is arranged to move within this cylinder and supported from below by press frame elements 28, 29. The return gears are not shown.

Top guide 30 for frame elements 28, 29 comprises guide shoes 36, 37, which are firmly secured to the foundation column 27. The movable press frame elements are movably supported in these guide shoes 36, 37 via wearing strips (not shown).

Bottom guide 31 for frame elements 28, 29 comprises guide shoes 38, 39 which are firmly connected with frame elements 28, 29.

Supporting surfaces 39, which are arranged radially to the press center, are taken up by opposing surfaces 40' of the supporting claws or supporting brackets 40, the latter being connected to cylinder shell 34. In a preferred embodiment, four claws 40 are used and arranged radial to the press center.

FIG. 9 shows a modified version of the top guide. In this version, guide shoe 41' fixed to foundation column 27 is not only arranged between plate-stack frame elements 28, 29 and supporting via wearing strips 42 and surfaces 41' on side cheek surfaces 28', 29' of frame elements 28, 29, but is also supported by surfaces 41" via wearing strips 43 on end face surfaces 28", 29" offrame plates 28", 29".

In this way, the press frame is also positively guided in two planes at each of the plate stack frame elements.

The bottom guide for the press frame is designed in accordance with FIG. 8.

Because of the selected design of the press frame using two, three, four, etc. parallel-arranged plate stacks transversely connected by rolled plates, rolled beams, plate stacks or similar elements to form a compact and rigid press construction, the individual plate stacks as such or their transverse supporting structures can be utilized to provide an efficient solution to the problem of guiding such large-capacity presses.

The invention provides a solution to this problem in that the immobile guide elements connected at the top of the foundation column and/or the fixed press table form a positive-lock sliding guide for the moving frame and/or frame parts in two planes and in that the guide elements on the drive cylinders and/or the drive cylinder form a further positive-lock sliding guide for the moving frame and/or frame parts in two planes, the top and bottom guides being arranged at a suitable distance from one another.

Both guides support the frame legs directly at or near the immobile guide basis in the form of the foundation column and the connected working cylinder; the guides are adequately dimensioned as regards length and thickness, so that exact guidance of the moving press frame is guaranteed at all press loads.

I claim:

1. A frame construction of a high-capacity subfloor press comprising a fixed foundation column, a press drive cylinder connected to said column, a moving press frame including a minimum of two parallelly arranged plate stacks that mutually support one another and are interconnected and positively guided in relation to said fixed foundation column and said press drive cylinder, a guide system for said moving press frame comprising an upper supporting guide arranged laterally adjacent the top of said foundation column and protruding into said movable press frame and being effective in two planes and a lower radial supporting guide arranged in the vicinity of said press drive cylinder and supported on said press frame and being effective in two planes, said top guide comprising a plurality of supporting elements arranged parallel to the press axis and connected laterally to the foundation column, each said supporting element protruding between two neighboring plate stacks and forming with at least one end face and side faces a two-plane support for said moving frame.

2. A high capacity press comprising a fixed foundation, a press frame movable in respect to said foundation, a fluid pressure-operated drive connected between said frame and said foundation for moving said frame relative to said foundation and including a cylinder carried by one of said frame and said foundation and a piston carried by the other of said frame and said foundation, said frame and said foundation defining a work-supporting table and a counter pressure surface therebetween, said frame comprising a plurality of stacks of vertically arranged plates and means for securing said plates in an assembled orientation; a top guide bearing against and supporting said frame in at least two separate planes, and a bottom guide extending radially outwardly from said press cylinder and bearing against and supporting said frame in at least two oppositely directed plane surfaces.

3. A press, according to claim 2, wherein said bottom guide includes a claw member extending radially outwardly from each side and each end of said press cylinder and bearing against leg portions of said frame on each side of said cylinder from two opposite radial sides.

4. A press, according to claim 2, wherein said press cylinder is secured to said foundation said press plunger having its lower end secured to said frame and being displaceable in said cylinder for moving said frame.

5. A high capacity press, comprising a fixed foundation, a frame movable in respect to said foundation, drive means connected between said frame and said foundation for moving said frame relative to said foundation, and a guide system carried on said foundation and engaged with said frame for guiding said frame in its movement including a first supporting guide extending laterally into said frame and bearing against said frame in at least two separate planes and a second guide spaced from said first guide on said foundation and extending radially into bearing engagement with said frame.

6. A high capacity press, according to claim 5, wherein said frame is mounted in said first and second supporting guides for vertical movement, said first supporting guide comprising a top guide said second supporting guide comprising a bottom guide and bearing against and supporting said frame in at least two radial planes, said frame comprising a plurality of stacks of vertically arranged plates.

'7. A high capacity press, according to claim 6, wherein said top guide comprises a substantially T-shaped supporting element carried on said foundation and engaged with said frame between adjacent stacks, said frame carrying supporting plates between stacks with correspondingly T-shaped recesses engaged and bearing against the T-shaped projection of said guide elements, the end faces of said T-shaped elements forming a two plane support for said moving said frame.

81A frame construction in accordance with claim 1, said supporting elements of the top guide having their side faces bearing on the sides of the plate stacks and being additionally supported with the face end surfaces of the plate stacks. 

1. A frame construction of a high-capacity subfloor press comprising a fixed foundation column, a press drive cylinder connected to said column, a moving press frame including a minimum of two parallelly arranged plate stacks that mutually support one another and are interconnected and positively guided in relation to said fixed foundation column and said press drive cylinder, a guide system for said moving press frame comprising an upper supporting guide arranged laterally adjacent the top of said foundation column and protruding into said movable press frame and being effective in two planes and a lower radial supporting guide arranged in the vicinity of said press drive cylinder and supported on said press frame and being effective in two planes, said top guide comprising a plurality of supporting elements arranged parallel to the press axis and connected laterally to the foundation column, each said supporting element protruding between two neighboring plate stacks and forming with at least one end face and side faces a two-plane support for said moving frame.
 2. A high capacity press comprising a fixed foundation, a press frame movable in respect to said foundation, a fluid pressure-operated drive connected between said frame and said foundation for moving said frame relative to said foundation and including a cylinder carried by one of said frame and said foundation and a piston carried by the other of said frame and said foundation, said frame and said foundation defining a work-supporting table and a counter pressure surface therebetween, said frame comprising a plurality of stacks of vertically arranged plates and means for securing said plates in an assembled orientation; a top guide bearing against and supporting said frame in at least two separate planes, and a bottom guide extending radially outwardly from said press cylinder and bearing against and supporting said frame in at least two oppositely directed plane surfaces.
 3. A press, according to claim 2, wherein said bottom guide includes a claw member extending radially outwardly from each side and each end of said press cylinder and bearing against leg portions of said frame on each side of said cylinder from two opposite radial sides.
 4. A press, according to claim 2, wherein said press cylinder is secured to said foundation said press plunger having its lower end secured to said frame and being displaceable in said cylinder for moving said frame.
 5. A higH capacity press, comprising a fixed foundation, a frame movable in respect to said foundation, drive means connected between said frame and said foundation for moving said frame relative to said foundation, and a guide system carried on said foundation and engaged with said frame for guiding said frame in its movement including a first supporting guide extending laterally into said frame and bearing against said frame in at least two separate planes and a second guide spaced from said first guide on said foundation and extending radially into bearing engagement with said frame.
 6. A high capacity press, according to claim 5, wherein said frame is mounted in said first and second supporting guides for vertical movement, said first supporting guide comprising a top guide said second supporting guide comprising a bottom guide and bearing against and supporting said frame in at least two radial planes, said frame comprising a plurality of stacks of vertically arranged plates.
 7. A high capacity press, according to claim 6, wherein said top guide comprises a substantially T-shaped supporting element carried on said foundation and engaged with said frame between adjacent stacks, said frame carrying supporting plates between stacks with correspondingly T-shaped recesses engaged and bearing against the T-shaped projection of said guide elements, the end faces of said T-shaped elements forming a two plane support for said moving said frame.
 8. A frame construction in accordance with claim 1, said supporting elements of the top guide having their side faces bearing on the sides of the plate stacks and being additionally supported with the face end surfaces of the plate stacks. 